[CLOSED] there is no storybook ending.

[alexander 'xan' manuel steele]

Xander swallowed. "I don't think that.." He mumbled admittedly. "I don't like that other people do.." He gazed up at her with sad brown eyes a moment. "I know you didn't ask for any of this, and I know you don't want help from a stranger who is pretty much dead." He frowned some, looking away. "I-...it's rough, I get that okay? Just...take a day off, Bee.. I got savings somewhere sill 'm sure, I don't have a job because I died but I don't care. If you take just today off and rest, I'll pay you whatever you would make."

[aubri 'bee' ella-paige reed]

Aubri walked over to him, wrapping her arms around him gently. "Stop looking so sad. You're adorable. And you need to smile." She said, reaching up and patting his cheek. "But I can't take the day off. Not unless my manager sees my bruises and sends me home. I'm out of sick days and I can't call in dead." She started pacing back and forth, figuring if she kept moving, her legs wouldn't hurt as bad. She rubbed her arm, chewing on her lip again. She spun on her heel, pacing the other way now.

"Have you ever wanted something so bad it hurt? But you knew it was wrong?" She asked, looking up at him as she almost ran into him. "Like, ruin your life bad.."

[alexander 'xan' manuel steele]

Xander huffed in complaint at her words. "He better send you home," He muttered, thinking he'd pay him if that was what it took.

He sat down as she nearly ran into him, realizing there was no television, and glanced up at her. "Uh..my life was ruined when I was seventeen, when my parents weren't even there while I was dying of cancer in front of my brother...I'd give anything to be where some people are...struggling with problems and looking for a way out... Cos anything is better than knowing you're going to die Bee, and leave everyone behind. You can turn it around. I never had that choice, the four year old up there who died because she was mistreated by drug abusing parents didn't have a choice. You're alive, you do. Don't do something that's going to ruin your life, because no matter what you think now, you're going to regret it. Believe me."

[aubri 'bee' ella-paige reed]

She sighed, pacing back and forth again. She thought for a moment that she was going to wear a rut in Marc's floor. "It's not even the drugs that are gonna do me in. Because I only use those when I'm really depressed, or in pain. And I mean, you can get that from a doctor. It's the-" She looked up as the door opened and Marc walked in.

"Hey, bumble bee." He said with a smile, enough to melt her heart. She blushed, looking down at her shoes.

"Friend?" He asked, slipping out of his jacket.

"Kinda. He's like my Tony." She said, walking over to lean against the sofa.

"Oh." He hung his jacket up in the closet. "No fucking." He said, pointing a finger at her.

"Kay." She smiled, heading for the door.

[alexander 'xan' manuel steele]

Xander chewed on his lip as she explained, hesitating when she stopped. Whatever it was, she wasn't going to let this guy know it.

He watched her finish gathering her things, smiling over at who must be Marc. "I'll see you later, Bee..." He murmured, could only hope that they sent her home.